Cinematographic apparatus for use with cassettes for motion picture film

ABSTRACT

A motion picture projector wherein the top wall of the housing supports a detachable upright duct for a stack of horizontal film-containing cassettes. The lowermost cassette of the stack dwells in a projection position in which the film can be automatically withdrawn from such cassette to be threaded through the projector and attached to the core of the takeup reel. An automatic rewinding unit rewinds the film onto the supply reel in the cassette occupying the projection position, and such cassette is thereupon expelled from projection position by a pusher to enter a detachable collecting receptacle. The lowermost cassette of the stack in the duct descends by gravity and occupies the projection position when the pusher returns to its retracted position. The guide means wherein the film passes from the supply reel in the cassette occupying the projection position to the takeup reel in the housing of the projector has a channel which twists the film through 90*.

Kremp et a1.

CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR USE WITH CASSETTES FOR MOTION PICTURE FILMInventors: Rudolf Kremp, Ludwig-Thoma-Pl.

3, Grunwald; Fridolin Hennig, Munich, both of Germany Agia-GevaertAktiengesellschaft, Leverkusen, Germany Filed: May 10, 1971 Appl. N0.:141,825

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data May 21, 1970 Germany ..P 20 24 646.2

US. Cl. .242/181, 242/198, 274/4 F,

352/74, 352/123 Int. Cl......G03b 1/04, G1 lb 15/32, G1 1b 23/04 Fieldof Search ..242/l8l, 192, 197-200, 1

242/205; 352/72-78, 123; 274/4 R, 4 C, 4 D, 11 R, 11 D References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1965 Camras ..242/181 1 Mar. 27, 1973 3,582,0826/1971 Tagaki et a1. ..274/4 R 2,113,845 4/1938 Kleerup ..242/76 X3,512,786 5/1970 Ban ..274/4 F Primary Examiner-Leonard D. ChristianAttorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT A motion picture projector whereinthe top wall of the housing supports a detachable upright duct for astack of horizontal film-containing cassettes. The lowermost cassette ofthe stack dwells in a projection position in which the film can beautomatically withdrawn from such cassette to be threaded through theprojector and attached to the core of the takeup reel. An automaticrewinding unit rewinds the film onto the supply reel in the cassetteoccupying the projection position, and such cassette is thereuponexpelled from projection position by a pusher to enter a detachablecollecting receptacle. The lowermost cassette of the stack in the ductdescends by'gravity and occupies the projection position when the pusherreturns to its retracted position. The guide means wherein the filmpasses from the supply reel in the cassette occupying the projectionposition to the takeup reel in the housing of the projector has achannel which twists the film through Patented March 27, 1973 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RUDOLF KREMP FRIDOLIN HENNIG BY Patented March27, 1973 3,722,828

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 21 M 19 Fig.3 I 20 INVENTOR RUDOLF KREMP BY FRIDOUNHENNlG e I g" CINEMATOGRAPI'IIC APPARATUS FOR USE WITH CASSETTES FORMOTION PICTURE FILM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to cinematographic apparatus in general, and more particularlyto improvements in motion picture projectors for use with filmcontainingcassettes. Still more particularly, the invention relates toimprovements in projectors which can support and store a series offilm-containing cassettes.

It is already known to provide a motion picture projector with a tray'ormagazine for a set of cassettes which are located in vertical planes andare movable stepwise so that one of the cassettes assumes a projectionposition in which the film can be withdrawn from its supply reel to bethreaded through the projector and attached to the core of the takeupreel. The projector is provided with means for arresting successivecassettes in projection position and with discrete means for moving thecassettes in stepwise fashion so as to advance successive cassettes intothe projection position. As a rule, the film is withdrawn from thecassette occupying the projection position and such cassette isthereupon advanced by a step to occupy a rewinding position in which thefilm is rewound onto its supply reel. The advancing means comprises apusher which advances the cassettes in a predetermined direction underthe action of one or more springs. The bias of such springs decreases asthe pusher moves further away from-its starting position so that thespeed of forward movement of cassettes decreases from step to step. Thisis highly undesirable, particularly in projectors wherein the movementsof cassettes trigger certain operations, such as automatic threading offilm, automatic rewinding of film and/or others. Furthermore, suchprojectors cannot accommodate substantial numbers of cassettes becausethe stroke of the pusher is rather limited. Were the stroke very long sothat the projector could accommodate a substantial number of cassettes,the initial bias of the spring or springs for the pusher would be veryhigh and the bias would decreaseto alv ery small value when the pusherwould advance thelast cassette of the series to the projection position.Theinterval required for advancing the foremost cassette of asubstantial number of cassettes to projection position would be only asmall fraction of the interval which would elapse during transport ofthe last cassette or cassettes of the series to projection position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide amotion picture projector for use with film-containing cassettes whereinthe speed at which the foremost cassette of a series advances toprojection position is negligibly different from the speed of the lastcassette of such series.

Another object of the invention is to provide a motion picture projectorwherein the cassettes need not be biased by springs to advance toprojection position.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved meansfor confining a smaller or larger number of cassettes in a motionpicture projector of the above outlined character.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact,rugged and inexpensive projector for use with film-containing cassettes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the projector withnovel means for expelling successive cassettes from the projectionposition and with novel means for guiding the film between the supplyreel of a cassette which occupies the projection position and the takeupreel.

The invention is embodied in a motion picture projector for use withfilm-containing cassettes which comprises a preferably box-shapedhousing and a confining container which is preferably separablyconnected with the housing and defines a space for reception andgravitational descent of cassettes to a predetermined projectionposition. The container is preferably an upright duct which is open atits top to permit insertion of cassettes, and the cassette whichoccupies the projection position is preferably located in a horizontalplane.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved motion picture projector itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures andadvantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed descriptionof certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspectiveview of a motion picture projector which embodies the invention, acassette being shown in the projection position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view asseen in the direction of arrows from the line lI-ll of FIG. 1; and 7FIG. 3 is a schematic front elevational view of the projector, withportions of the housing and duct broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS j The motion picture projectorwhich is shown in the drawing comprises a substantially box-shapedhousing 1 having a front wall which supports the mount 2 for a'projection lens 2a. The lens 2a is located in front of a vertical gate 4which, in turn, is located in front of a projection lamp 3a. A reflector3 directs the light which issues from the lamp 3a against the gate 4 sothat the image of a film frame which registers with the gate is in FIG.1 and an inoperative or retracted position. The

friction wheel 5 can be driven by the main motor of the projector or bya separate prime mover to rotate convoluted motion picture film 22 inthe lowermost cassette 20 of a stack of cassettes 20 in a confiningcontainer here shown as an upright vertical duct 19. Each cassette has awindow or cutout 20a through which the friction wheel 5 passes inresponse to pivoting of the arm 6 in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. 1, whereby the friction wheel engages the outermost convolution offilm 22 in the lowermost cassette 20" to rotate the supply reel 24 forconvoluted film in a direction to pay out the film. The threading unitfor motion picture film further comprises a deflector 8 which can becaused to enter the lowermost cassette 20 by way of the cutout 20a so asto engage the outermost convolution of film in front of the frictionwheel 5. When the friction wheel 5 is driven to rotate the convolutedfilm, the leader of such film is deflected by the member 8 to enter apredetermined film pathand to be ultimately attached to the core of atakeup reel 17. The deflector 8 is pivotable about the axis of avertical shaft 9 which is mounted in the housing 1.

The housing 1 further accommodates a rewinding unit which also includesa friction wheel 10 mounted on an arm 11 which is pivotable about theaxis of a vertical shaft 12. The friction wheel 10 can be introducedthrough a second cutout or window 20b in the lowermost cassette 20 andcan be driven to rotate the supply reel 24 in the lowermost cassette 20'in a direction to collect the film 22. The guide means which guides thefilm 22 between the supply reel 24 in the lowermost cassette 20' and thetakeup reel 17 comprises two rolls l4 and 15 which are respectivelymounted on horizontal shafts l3 and 16. The main motor of the projectorcan drive the takeup reel 17 in a direction to collect the that thelowermost cassette 20' of the stack maintains its cutouts 20a, 20b inthe positions shown in FIG. 1, namely, to permit introduction of thefriction wheels 5 and 10. The cassettes 20 of the stack in the duct 19are located in horizontal planes, i.e., side-by-side. The vertical axisof the duct 19 is indicated in FIG. 3 by the phantom line 21. Thedirection in which the'cassettes 20 are to be introduced into the duct19 and in which the cassettes descend toward the projection positionoccupied by the lowermost cassette 20' is indicated by the arrow 33.

When a fresh cassette reaches the projection position (see the cassette20' of FIG. 1), the threading unit including the friction wheel 5 isstarted, either by hand or automatically (for example, by a switch whichis closed in response to descent of the next-to-the-lowermost cassette20 to the projection position), whereby the friction wheel 5 co-operateswith the deflector 8 to expel the leader of film 22 from the cassette20' and to advance the l'eader into the range of the customary clawpull-down (not shown) which transports the film 22 stepwise to placesuccessive frames of such film into registry with thegate 4. The takeupreel 17 is rotated by the shaft 18 when the leader of film 22 isattached to its core, and the projection of images of successive framesis then carried out in the customary way. The film 22 is thereuponrewound onto the supply reel 24 in the cassette 20 by the friction wheel10 which can be moved to operative position by hand, in response toclosing of a switch (not shown) or in automatic response to a signalwhich can be produced, for example, in response to increasing tension ofthe trailing portion of film 22 when the projection of images iscompleted and the takeup reel 17 continues to rotate in the direction todraw the film from the cassette 20'.

The aforementioned guide means which guides the film between the cutout20a of the cassette 20' and the takeup reel 17 includes a channel 23which is shown in detail in FIG. 2 and is designed to impart to the film22 a twist. The guide means further includes the aforementioned rolls14, 15 and additional guide elements which insure that the leader offilm 22 remains in the predetermined path during transport toward thecore of the takeup reel 17. The manner in which the leader of film 22can be automatically attached to the coreof the takeup reel 17 is wellknown in the art of motion picture projectors. The friction wheel 5 canbe returned to its inoperative or retracted position as soon as theleader of the film 22 reaches the aforementioned pull-down.

When the rewinding of film 22 onto the supply reel 24 in the cassette20' occupying the projection position of FIG. 1 is completed, thecassette 20' is removed from the projection position in the directionindicated by an arrow 29 to allow the next cassette 20 of the stack inthe duct 19 to descend by gravity and to assume the projection position.The means for expelling the cassette 20 from the lower end of the duct19 is shown in FIG. 3. It comprises a pusher or transfer member 25 whichis reciprocable .in and counter to the direction indicated by arrow 29by moving in suitable ways provided therefor on the housing I. The frontface 250 of the pusher 25 can engage the adjacent wall of the cassette20' when the pusher moves from the retracted position of FIG. 3 to enterthe duct 19 by way of a first opening 19a and to expel the cassette 20'through a second opening 19b located opposite the opening 19a. The meansfor reciprocating the pusher 25 comprises a toothed rack 25b which isrigid with the pusher, a pinion 26 which meshes with the rack 25b and isrotatable in the housing 1 on a horizontal shaft 27, and a drive for thepinion 26, e.g.,a transmission which is driven by the main motor andincludes an endless belt 28 trained over a pulley which is coaxial withthe pinion 26.

The second opening 19b of the duct 19 is normally closed by a pivotablegate or flap 30 which yields when engaged by the adjacent surface of themoving cassette 20'. The hinge for the gate 30 is shown at 31. The thusexpelled cassette 20 enters an intercepting receptacle 32 which ispreferably detachable from the housing 1. The receptacle 32 canaccommodate oneor more cassettes 20 and can be emptied from time totime.

.While the pusher 25 expels the lowermost cassette 20' from theprojection position of FIG. 1, its top surface 25c prevents thenext-following cassette 20 from descending by gravity and from reachingthe projection position before the pusher completes its return stroke sothat its front face 25a is located to the right of the opening 19a, asviewed in FIG. 3. The configuration of the duct 19 is preferably suchthat the cassette which descends by gravity upon retraction of thepusher 25 automatically assumes the projection position in which itscutouts 20a, 20b respectively permit entry of the friction wheel 5 anddeflector 8 (cutout 20a) and friction wheel 10 (cutout 20b).

The drive means for the pusher 25 can be started by hand, e.g., byclosing ofa switch, or in response to a signal which can be generated bythe rewinding unit, for example, in response to completion of themovement of friction wheel to itsttractedposition. It is equally withinthe purview of the invention to omit the parts 25b, 26, 27, 28 and toprovide the pusher 25 with a handle which can be grasped by hand to movethe pusher forwardly and backwards and to thus expel the cassette intothe receptacle 32.

The duct 19 can be inserted into a suitable cutout in the top wall ofthe housing 1 to be held in requisite position by friction. Other meanscan be provided for releasably or detachably securing the duct 19 to thehousing 1 in such position that the cassettes in the duct tend todescend by gravity and that one thereof automatically assumes theprojection position when the pusher is retracted. The lowermost cassette20 in the projection position preferably extends in part into thehousing or is surrounded by a portion of the top wall of the housing toinsure that the projector can be used without the duct 19. Thus, whenthe duct 19 is detached, the operator can place a singlecassette intothe projection position because such position is preferably defined inpart by the top wall of the housing 1. An advantage of the removableduct 19 and of the removable receptacle 32 is that the projector can bestored in a small space or carried around in a small case. The duct 19and the receptacle 32 will be attached to the housing 1 only when it isdesired to present two or more films, t.e., to project the images offrames on films which are stored in several cassettes.

The duct 19 need not completely surround the stack of cassettes 20. Thisduct can be. provided with holes, cutouts, windows or like means whichenable the user to determine the number of cassettes in the stack.

The aforementioned guide channel 23 for the film 22 in mounted in thehousing 1 downstream of the deflector 8, as considered in the directionof film travel from the cutout 20a of the cassette 20' toward the takeupreel 17. This. guide channel 23 is designed to twist the film 22 through90- because the cassette 20' is located in a horizontal plane whereasthe film gate 4 is vertical. The channel 23 preferably consists ofsuitable synthetic plastic material and defines a twisting passage 123(see FIG. 2) which automatically twists the film 22 through 90 degreeswhen the leader of the film advances beyond the outlet of the channel.As shown in FIG. 2, the lateral or marginal portions 23a, 23b of thepassage 123 in the channel 23 are narrower than the median portion ofsuch-passage so that the film 22 is engaged only along its edges toavoid scratching of or other damage to film frames. It was found thatthe channel 23 is capable of changing the orientation of film 22 withoutany damage and without jamming of the leader during transport throughthe'passage 123.

An important advantage of the duct 19 is that it permits or causessuccessive cassettes 20 to assume the projection position under theaction of gravity. Thus, the cassettesne ed not be pushed or pulled'toprojection position; this results in a substantialsimplification ofthe-projector and insures that the speed at which the lowermost cassetteof an entire stack advances to projection position is substantiallyidentical with the speed of the last or uppermost cassette. This isimportant when the descending cassettes are used to generate signals orto actuate certain elements which operate one or more projector units asa function of movement of successive cassettes to projection position.

It is clear that the improved projector is susceptible of manyadditional modifications. For example, the duct 19 (and/or thereceptacle 32) may be permanently attached to the housing 1 and theillustrated upright duct can be replaced with a slightly or stronglyinclined duct, as long as the cassettes of the stack in the duct arestill capable of descending by gravity to insure that the lowermostcassette of the stack automatically assumes the projection position assoon as the pusher 25 or an analogous transfer member is retracted.Furthermore, the receptacle 32 can be omitted if the duct 19 is providedwith an extension below the projection position so that the cassette 20'which is to leave the projection position need not move sideways but ispermitted to descend by gravity to enter the extension of the duct.Still further, the cassette 20 which is to leave the projection positioncan be caused to descend into a chute, not shown, for sliding movementinto a receptacle which is placed next to the housing 1 to intercept thedescending cassette.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore,such'adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as newand desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended:

1. In a motion picture projector for use with filmcontaining cassettes,a combination comprising a housing defining a first space for receptionof one film-con: taining cassette at a time whereby the cassette whichis received in said space occupies a predetermined'projection position;a confining container separably connectable to said housing and defininga second space for. storage of spare cassettes, said second spaceconstituting an extension of said first spacewhen said container isconnected to said housing to allow for direct transfer of a sparecassette from said second space into said first space upon removal of acassette from said first space and guide means for the film which isbeing withdrawn from a cassette occupying said projection position, saidguide means comprising achannel for twisting the film through an angleof substantially 1 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein saidcontainer is an upright duct.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the cassette whichoccupies said projection position is located in a substantiallyhorizontal plane.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising transfermeans provided on said housing and commodate and to at least partiallysurround a stack of superimposed cassettes.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, further comprising transfermeans for expelling cassettes from said projection position and areceptacle for collecting the thus expelled cassettes, said receptaclebeing provided on said housing.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said receptacle isdetachable from said housing.

9. In a motion picture projector for use with filmcontaining cassettes,a combination comprising a housing; a confining container connected withsaid housing and defining a space for reception and gravitationaldescent of cassettes to a predetermined projection position; guide meansfor the film which is being withdrawn from a cassette occupying saidprojection position, said guide means comprising a channel for twistingthe film through an angle of substantially 90;

and a film gate mounted in said housing and located in a substantiallyvertical plane, said channel of said guide means being arranged to twistthe film upstream of said gate.

10. In a motion picture projector for use with filmcontaining cassettes,a combination comprising a housing; a confining container connected withsaid housing and defining a space for reception and gravitationaldescent of cassettes to a predetermined projection position; guide meansfor the film which is being withdrawn from a cassette occupying saidprojection position, said guide means comprising a channel for twistingthe film through an angle of substantially 90 and said channel defininga relatively wide passage'for motion picture film, said passage having apair of relatively narrow marginal portions for the edge portions offilm which passes through said channel.

1. In a motion picture projector for use with film-containing cassettes,a combination comprising a housing defining a first space for receptionof one film-containing cassette at a time whereby the cassette which isreceived in said space occupies a predetermined projection position; aconfining container separably connectable to said housing and defining asecond space for storage of spare cassettes, said second spaceconstituting an extension of said first space when said container isconnected to said housing to allow for direct transfer of a sparecassette from said second space into said first space upon removal of acassette from said first space and guide means for the film which isbeing withdrawn from a cassette occupying said projection position, saidguide means comprising a channel for twisting the film through an angleof substantially 90*.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid container is an upright duct.
 3. A combination as defined in claim1, wherein the cassette which occupies said projection position islocated in a substantially horizontal plane.
 4. A combination as definedin claim 1, further comprising transfer means provided on said housingand operative to expel a cassette from said projection position.
 5. Acombination as defined in claim 4, wherein said transfer means comprisesa pusher which is reciprocable in a substantially horizontal plane tothereby expel a cassette from said first space while moving in apredetermined direction.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid container is an upright duct which is arranged to accommodate andto at least partially surround a stack of superimposed cassettes.
 7. Acombination as defined in claim 6, further comprising transfer means forexpelling cassettes from said projection position and a receptacle forcollecting the thus expelled cassettes, said receptacle being providedon said housing.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein saidreceptacle is detachable from said housing.
 9. In a motion pictureprojector for use with film-containing cassettes, a combinationcomprising a housing; a confining container connected with said housingand defining a space for reception and gravitational descent ofcassettes to a predetermined projection position; guide means for thefilm which is being withdrawn from a cassette occupying said projectionposition, said guide means comprising a channel for twisting the filmthrough an angle of substantially 90*; and a film gate mounted in saidhousing and located in a substantially vertical plane, said channel ofsaid guide means being arranged to twist the film upstream of said gate.10. In a motion picture projector for use with film-containingcassettes, a combination comprising a housing; a confining containerconnected with said housing and defining a space for reception andgravitational descent of cassettes to a predetermined projectionposition; guide means for the film which is being withdrawn from acassette occupying said projection position, said guide means comprisinga channel for twisting the film through an angle of substantially 90*and said channel defining a relatively wide passage for motion picturefilm, said passage having a pair of relatively narrow marginal portionsfor the edge portions of film which passes through said channel.